Staff Reports
In a surprising twist, John Hinckley Jr., the man who attempted to assassinate former President Ronald Reagan in 1981, has called for an end to violence following the recent attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. Hinckley, recently released from confinement in a mental hospital, took to social media on Wednesday to issue his plea.
Seeing someone who once tried to kill a President now advocating for peace is certainly unexpected. It’s like a wolf dressing up as a sheep and telling us all to get along. But hey, stranger things have happened.
'Give Peace A Chance': Man Who Attempted To Assassinate Reagan Calls For End To 'Violence' @DailyCaller https://t.co/N0qzVHJ8Dm
— Harold Hutchison (@HaroldHutchison) July 17, 2024
Hinckley’s post stated, “Violence is not the way to go. Give peace a chance.” It’s a notable sentiment, though one wonders why he didn’t think of that in 1981 when he fired six shots at Reagan. Perhaps his perspective changed while selling his artwork on eBay.
This isn’t the first time Trump has faced an assassination threat. During his 2016 campaign, a 20-year-old man from the United Kingdom attempted to grab a police officer’s gun with the intention of shooting Trump. Fortunately, the officer stopped him, and he was taken into custody. It's reassuring to know our law enforcement officers remain vigilant.
Violence and division are prevalent issues in our country, and it’s unfair to blame one party alone. Regardless of political alignment, the anger and division need to stop.
Maybe we should take Hinckley’s plea to heart and give peace a chance. And while we’re at it, let's give sanity a chance too. If someone who once tried to kill a President can have a change of heart, perhaps there’s hope for all of us. At least, that’s what I’ll try to believe.
